Cultural tourism is proving to be one of Kenya’s strongest tools for unity, conservation, and economic empowerment, Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano has said.
Speaking during the Ura Gate Cultural Festival in Tharaka-Nithi County on Thursday, the CS praised the event for weaving together song, dance, tradition and wildlife in a way that strengthens national cohesion while boosting livelihoods.
She urged counties and communities to establish annual events calendars to enable the government to market cultural festivals to both domestic and international tourists in good time.
“The Ura Gate Festival is more than a celebration of heritage; it is a living bridge between our traditions and our shared future,” Miano told the gathering, which brought together communities from Tharaka, Chuka, Mwimbi, Muthambi and their neighbours from Igembe, Kamba, Borana and Munyuyaya.
Since its humble beginnings in 2015, the festival has grown into a countywide extravaganza and is now ranked among Kenya’s most distinctive cultural showcases.
This year’s theme — “Embracing Culture as a Tool for Wildlife Conservation & Socio-Economic Development” — directly aligns with national aspirations, Miano said.
She outlined three key ways in which the festival supports Kenya’s goals. First, it fuels tourism: hosted at the eastern gate of Meru National Park, the event offers visitors a blend of cultural immersion and wildlife encounters. Second, it safeguards heritage: traditional practices help protect sacred sites and promote human–wildlife coexistence. Third, it drives economic empowerment: homestays, handicrafts and agrotourism ventures create jobs in line with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
The CS also commended the visionary leadership of President William Ruto, noting that under his stewardship the tourism sector is on an undeniable growth trajectory. She thanked him for his commitment and support, saying his leadership has enabled the sector to grow to “unimaginable levels” over the last three years.
“In Meru and Tharaka-Nithi counties, the Government has recently compensated families to the tune of KSh 37 million for losses caused by wildlife incidents,” she revealed.
She also highlighted Tharaka-Nithi’s role in species protection, noting that it is home to the rare pancake tortoise, for which the Government has recently launched a national conservation strategy.
Miano underscored the growing value of cultural festivals in diversifying Kenya’s tourism offering, citing the Lake Turkana Festival, Lamu Cultural Festival and the International Camel Derby. The Ura Gate Festival, she said, now stands proudly among them as a signature attraction.
